October 24, 2007
Way, way back in the
day, the historic
Chicago Defender
would tell readers what was
not appropriate--offensive,
classless and lacking in
decorum.
On the front page of the
popular Black-owned
newspaper, readers could
find out what was considered
socially acceptable.
According to the documentary,
“Soldiers Without
Swords,” many Southerners
new to Chicago needed to
know what was expected.
In today’s society, unfortunately,
many of the
offenses pointed out then are
considered the norm. It’s
okay to be rude and crude;
however, there was a time
when a woman would not be
caught spitting in public.
For me, seeing a man
spitting in public is gross yet
commonplace, but there's
something just totally wrong
with seeing a female spitting.
There is nothing sophisticated,
elegant or acceptable
about such a practice.
Some will say that there
are times when you just have
to spit. You just can’t get
around it. I agree. But what
about using a tissue?
Almost a decade ago,
Guardsman staff writer
Michael Kushner shared his
thought on this subject.
“Spitting in public must
stop. It is a filthy, disgusting
habit that is done by illmannered
and seemingly
uneducated hooligans.”
In Singapore, spitting
could land you in the court of
law. In most states in the
United States, spitting in
public is considered a
minimal offense; however,
depending on the part of the
country you’re in, spitting is
considered a pefectly acceptable
way of life.
One city provided this
piece of legislation. Sec. 15-
36. Spitting in public places.
It shall be unlawful for
any person to expectorate or
spit in or upon any paved
sidewalk or footpath of any
public street or public square
in the city or in or upon any
part of any public building
under the control of the city,
or upon the floor, platform or
steps of any public vehicle
carrying passengers for hire
or upon the floor of any
depot, station or other
common carrier, or upon the
floor or steps of any theater,
store, factory or any building
which is used in common by
the public, or upon the floor
of any hall or office, in any
hotel or lodginghouse which
is used in common by the
guests thereof. Violation of
this section is declared to be
a municipal infraction. The
penalty for violation shall be
the sum of twenty-five
dollars.
Springfield, Ohio officials
have enacted codes that
make violators face minor
misdemeanor charges.
In parts of Canada,
spitting, urinating and defecating
in public have all been
outlawed. And with good
reason!
So, here again you have
government legislating
behavior. Citizens complain
about “Big Brother”
watching their every move
and dictating everything
from what time they are to be
in the house to where they
can smoke. Now spitting?
Well, if folks don’t have
the decency to not subject
others to such foul behavior,
someone needs to step in.
Sure a discussion can
ensue about the health issues
associated with coming into
contact with someone else’s
contaminated excrements,
but let’s just talk about
common decency.
Sisters, imagine that a
young man is checking you
out. You look good. You’re
wearing the latest fashions,
and you are well groomed.
Right before he prepares to
make a move on you, a loud
noise erupts from your throat
and then you spit.
I wouldn’t be surprised if
the young man changed his
mind about you, and you
shouldn’t be surprised either.
It shouldn’t take a law to
make folks do what is right.
Last week, someone near
and dear to me got cited by a
police officer for disorderly
behavior. “I was just talking
with my friends,” she said.
Well, her crude conversation
with her friends was
“ghettofabulous”--complete
with expletives and
“nigger”-this and that.
She didn’t need a citation;
she needed her butt beat
because she was not brought
up that way.
Sadly, she will reproduce
and won’t tell her children
the difference between
decent and indecent
behavior, and so they will be
doing the same things.
I’m glad she got cited.
Hopefully, she will learn
from the experience.
No excuses are acceptable.
Next it will be okay for
people to walk around
having loud outbursts of air
from their derrieres!
Sure there are times when
flatulence can not be helped,
but if society keeps on going
the way it is, boy are we in
trouble.
Just think.
We wear our bedroom
clothes; we belch and spit
anywhere; we talk loudly
and tell our business on cell
phones; we expose our
underwear with sagging or
too tight clothing; we come
outside without combing our
hair or brushing our teeth;
and we use loud and foul
language in public.
Why should we be
surprised when it becomes
the order of the day to pass
gas?
After all, what’s wrong
with a good, long, loud fart?
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